2017’s theme – Together we can end Gender Based Violence in Education!

As a student movement, making sure that everyone in society has access to, and is able to thrive in education is central to everything that we do. That’s why we’re thrilled that the theme for the 16 Days of Activism in 2017 is “Together we can end Gender Based Violence in Education!”

This year’s theme builds on the momentum and achievements during the 2016 campaign, when over 700 organizations in 92 countries campaigned around the theme of “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All!” This year places a stronger emphasis on the human rights framework and asks campaigner to focus not only on raising awareness but to take an advocacy focus to influence institutional, legal, and policy change.

In Northern Ireland one in four women experience domestic violence during their lifetime and police attend an average of 60 domestic-related incidents per day. Data published in September 2015 showed that 5,500 sexual offences were recorded in UK schools over a three-year period. 59% of girls and young women aged 13-21 said in 2014 that they had faced some form of sexual harassment at school or college in the past year. And globally more than 246 million children are subjected to gender-based violence in or around schools every year.

This isn’t good enough. Education play a crucial role in our society, and everyone deserves the opportunity to participate in it, without fear or discrimination. Together, we can end Gender Based Violence in Education!